Separated dad dating

‘Divorce’ and ‘dad’ were two huge grown-up concepts for one single woman.Even though I was 39, neither marriage nor motherhood had ever featured in my life and so I had no idea what to expect.(The number likely includes many joint custody arrangements.) While single dads face many of the same dating challenges as single moms, there are some differences: In a survey of 100 single fathers, the vast majority preferred to date women with children, thinking she would be more selfless and understanding of his commitment as a father, said Ellie Slott Fisher, who conducted the survey as research for her book "Dating for Dads: The Single Father's Guide to Dating Well Without Parenting Poorly" (Bantam).

As a single dad wading back into the dating pool, Daniel Ruyter was surprised how many women lost interest when he revealed, always in the first conversation, that he had a son."At first I took it personally," said the Orlando, Fla., information technology analyst, who was 32 when he divorced and got joint custody of his then 5-year-old son.

I wanted to share my tips on how to thrive while dating a divorced dad in case it’s a risk you’re thinking about taking.

When you date a dad, there’s a fear that you have to compete with his children for his time and attention. No, you aren’t always going to be his number one priority in life but nor should you be.

"I found it very arbitrary that before they got to know me, they had decided against me."But as Ruyter cycled through "close to 100" first dates and a few long-term girlfriends (a scheduling feat, considering half his week was devoted to his son), his romantic standards heightened in ways they may not have pre-fatherhood.

He broke off one relationship because her dream of a downtown condo didn't fit with his need for a yard and swing set.